Weird! I'd like to use transfer text as there is a (somewhat remote) chance that the data could exceed the row amount in Excel (2003).

I noticed that aside form trying to export different tables, the 2 "TransferText" lines have another difference! The 2nd option (the "Specification Name" is "" in the first instance, and Null in the 2nd.

that's true but i've been using the same syntax as the second, working code. the only reason there's the empty quotes is, i copy/pasted the VB code generated from a converted macro - which works in a new, empty DB but not on the one i am using. When i write the macro on the target DB, not only doesn't it run but it won't convert to VB.

In any case, I don't think that is the issue - the same error occurs with or without the empty quotes.